Trouble with your Halloween costume? We can help

Thursday

Oct 18, 2012 at 9:16 AMOct 18, 2012 at 9:40 AM

Last Thursday, we asked people to participate in a live chat at recordonline.com about costume ideas and/or problems. In my opinion, part of the fun of Halloween is making your costume, and it doesn't have to be complicated or costly to be clever.

Amy Berkowitz

Last Thursday, we asked people to participate in a live chat at recordonline.com about costume ideas and/or problems.

In my opinion, part of the fun of Halloween is making your costume, and it doesn't have to be complicated or costly to be clever.

During the chat I gave the following example: The best costume that was ever done, in my opinion, was one my sister told me about. She saw this really tall guy at a party. He came as a cat scratching post. He wrapped himself in carpet (probably used carpet or duct tape to hold it there) and used Velcro to stick some stuffed animal cats on it. Isn't that great? If you are super tall, use it to your advantage. And you get a great area rug after Halloween. So choose colors wisely to match your decor.

All the people who wrote in had great questions and typical costume problems. So we are publishing a segment of what was asked. Log onto recordonline.com/crafts to read about more costume conundrums. If you have any costuming questions, feel free to email me until Halloween at aberkowitz@th-record.com

Q: My little ones always wait until the last minute to decide they want to dress up for Halloween. Any suggestions for quick costumes that include items that might already be in my house? - Guest

A: Well, I think the best thing to do is look at objects you have around the house first. They can dress easily as Peanut Butter and Jelly (if they are a twosome). Just get a brown warm up suit or brown pajamas. Jelly can be purple. Add a sign over their neck. If you have a third child make two pieces of bread out of two foam boards and hang them over the shoulders. It doesn't have to be complicated to be clever.

Q: What are some of the most creative costumes you've ever come up with? Just wondering! - Guest

A: (A firefly costume I made) was clever because what you don't see is the shoes. I was a literal firefly. I painted my black pumps with orange and gold glitter flames and put rhinestones on them.

I was also a Texas Hold-em table. The dress was made from green felt. My other fave was my “Miss All That And A Bag of Chips outfit”. My dress was made from chip bags. The newsroom loved that one because they were encouraged to eat as many chips as possible.

Q: My 7-year-old loves super heros and wants to be Batman ... but I don't want to spend all that money on a Batman costume. Any ideas for what I can do? - Juliecat

A: Well, Batman doesn't have to be exact since there are so many versions. You could dress him in a black warm up suit. Get a black garbage bag. Lay it out flat on the floor and cut V's from the bottom making it look jagged. You can then fold over the top and take a long black ribbon use Duct tape on the inside (so it won't be seen) to hold the ribbon in. Tie it to his neck for the cape. Then go to the craft store to get one of those masks that cover the eyes. Use a head band and cut out pointy ears from a paper plate you paint black (something he can help you with) and Voila! He can run around saying “I'm Batman”!

Q: What else did you wear for the firefly? - Guest

A: I used those little LED lights that you sew on costumes. They blink so they were great. I could also turn them on and off. I sewed them on some pre-made wings. I also used a little plastic type jar and put the lights in there. I glued a handle on it and used it like a lantern. I told people it was my firefly family and they were trapped by a little boy who wanted to keep them.

Q: What are the top Halloween costumes this year for boys? - Juliecat

A: For boys I think the standard super heros. Many boys like that Cereal Killer costume. I'm not a fan, but its easy to make. Just grab a white garbage bag. Cut a hole for the head and buy those mini cereal boxes. Glue them on. Glue a spoon and a lightweight bowl on it. Then drip red paint down the costume. People buy that one and I still wonder why. It's so much more fun to make a costume.

PS I just read this morning that the Big Bird costume is flying off the shelves due to the political debates. And I guess Big Bird is a boy so that's another option. My nephew of course is going to be a football star. He has big dreams. Too bad he's only 10 and weighs no more than the football.

Q: What else did you put on your Texas Hold'em costume? - gina14.

A: Oh with Texas Hold-em I mixed the Texas part with the card game. I sewed letters on the green felt saying Texas Hold'em and sewed these little buttons I got a the craft store than had cards and spades and hearts, dollar signs etc on the felt. I took a deck of cards and sewed it near the scoop part of the neck.

For the Texas part I wore a big blond wig and boots. I sewed two bandanas on the dress for sleeves. I had to cover the arms...I have arm issues. :0)

Q: What's a sexy, creative idea for the ladies this year? I feel like the costume shops have all the same things! - Cat

A: Hmmm sexy is in the mind. It's tough because I try for sexy and I end up cute. But since your name is Cat. A sexy cat is easy to do. Here's the thing if you think about what is sexy to you it helps. You could be a beautiful Coke bottle. The shape is sexy and you could hand out little pop tops saying you “popped your top”. Okay this is a family paper.

When all else fails Jessica Rabbit is easy. It's a red column dress. A red wig and a bored look. You can hold a picture of the toon that says her famous line in the Roger Rabbit film “I'm not bad I'm just drawn that way.”

Cat's response: Thanks! I like the idea of Jessica rabbit.

Great! And now if someone will come as Roger you would be all set. Hey, that's an idea.

Q: I've seen a costume that is a bunch of grapes using balloons...any advice on putting that together? - Miranda

A: Ooh very carefully. What I would do is wear something that matches the balloons underneath it. That way if you burst one it won't look so bad. Bring spare balloons with you too. I would sew them on with purple thread or green if you are a green grape. Oh by the way. If you sew the balloon you would want to only sew the very top of the little neck part above the knot. I would also tell people if you pop them that you are seedless.

Q: How do you suggest I give my 5 year old muscles for an incredible hulk costume? - Carol

A: Padding lots of padding. I'm teasing. What you can do is buy batting. It's like a sack of cotton used to fill pillows. Any fabric store has it. You can then get him to wear sleeves that are too big and fill them. Take the batting and ball it up. If you can use some duct tape to hold them and then push them up the sleeves.

I think that should work and be comfortable. Just don't over fill or he will look like the Michelin Man.

Also, don't use cotton balls. You will be there all day and his muscles will look lumpy in a bad way. It helps if you fill the muscle part and then use a rubber band to secure it on his arm in between muscles. Good luck.

A: Ok a car huh? It depends on which one so I will leave that up to you. But dress him in the color that the car is. So if it's red. Get a red sweatshirt and sweatpants. Most kids have these in their closets. If not then he gets a new warm-up suit to wear outside or to bed.

Now get a box that is large enough for him to wear. Cut the bottom out and glue big elastic straps to it or suspenders. Paint the box the color you need. Trim the flaps. Use LED battery operated lights and aluminum foil for the headlights. He can get a little Tykes steering wheel from a friend. He's all set. If he wants he can get a friend to be Mater to tow him.